Capt, Sidhu at cordial best, say will wreck Badals’ ship

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 19

Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh and his newly-inducted colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu today exhibited father-son like bonding during their first public appearance together.

Amarinder said: “I know the Sidhu family since his father was Patiala district party president and Sidhu was a little boy. He is like my son and I am happy that he is now part of us,” he said.

Claiming that the Congress would get two-third majority in the Assembly elections, Amarinder said the SAD-BJP alliance and AAP would manage to win no more than 10-20 seats.

Addressing the media, Amarinder said the people of Punjab were fed up with the SAD and want to dethrone the government. He said once elected, the party would order reinvestigation into the drug racket and put behind bars all those found guilty.

Sidhu hinted at playing “second fiddle” to Amarinder in his maiden innings of Assembly polls. He even refrained from answering queries posed to him. When asked to comment over demonetisation, Sidhu said: “When Congress president is here who am I to speak.” Amarinder said his stand was the same as that of his party.

Setting aside speculations over the alleged cold war over the post of CM, Amarinder made it clear that the Sidhu couple joined the Congress unconditionally, although they would play a vital role in the party. Amarinder volunteered to be his wicketkeeper.

When Amarinder was asked if he would accept Sidhu as the CM, Sidhu was quick to reply: “No ifs and buts…if my aunt were a man, she would have been my uncle…AAP disclosed that they offered me Deputy CM’s chair, did I accept it? Haathi chaale wich bazaar, hazaran mate cheekhan naal naal (when the elephant is on the roll, there are thousands who start screaming).”

Sidhu said he would go to Lambi to campaign and to give the Badals a bigger thrashing.